Following several years of AOPA lobbying effort, Congress mandated that Aeronautical Charting and Cartography Division be moved out of the Department of Commerce and into the FAA. The transfer took place on October 1, 2000. As a follow-on to this move, AOPA believes that the FAA could improve efficiencies in the current aeronautical charting program by creating an Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) that consolidates all charting related functions resulting in the improved the delivery of safety-critical National Airspace System data.
If implemented, this action would place all of the functions related to the publication of aeronautical data under one line of business and should include AC&C, Aeronautical Information Division, National Flight Data Center, NOTAM Office, Publications Division, and Aviation System Standards (AVN). Consolidation of these functions would reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency.
The current structures of the various aeronautical charting organizations are very fragmented and responsibilities are scattered among several lines of business within the FAA. This frequently leads to internal communication problems, uncoordinated procedural and charting changes, and a procedures design process that is cumbersome.
Aeronautical charts and related publications are essential sources of information for the safety of flight and compliance with FAA regulations. By consolidating the functions of AC&C, Aeronautical Information Division, National Flight Data Center, NOTAM Office, Publications Division, and AVN, the FAA would improve service, quality, and the availability of information critical to the safety of flight. A single AIS office would reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency. The AIS office would also enable the FAA to better track the cost of these services. When excessive costs are easier to identify and reduce, the FAA can function more efficiently while providing superior service. Additionally, this proposed AIS office is similar to the model offered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aeronautical Information Services, Annex 15, Chapter 3.
AC&C previously resided at the Department of Commerce in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). AC&C prepares aeronautical charts and other products for the federal government and the public. Air traffic controllers, pilots, and manufacturers of aviation databases use AC&C products.
The geographic area of charting responsibility includes the United States, west to the Philippines, southwest to Australia, north to Greenland, south to Argentina, and east to Eastern Europe. Responsibility is currently broken down as follows: FAA is responsible for supplying data within their area of responsibility, the Department of Defense's National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)/Aerospace Center (NIMAAC) supplies data in the Pacific and other areas. NIMAAC also coordinates military data for the United States and the area beginning with the overlap with the conterminous U.S. charts, southward to 4 degrees S. latitude.
In response to the National Performance Review and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), NOAA streamlined their strategic plan to more closely support their core mission of coastal environmental management. NOAA determined that AC&C does not support this mission and in 1994 began negotiations to transfer AC&C to FAA.
Because of dissenting opinions, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested that the Inspector Generals from the Departments of Transportation and Commerce study the issue and make a recommendation. In September 1996, the IG's completed a special interagency review of this issue and recommended that AC&C transfer to the FAA. In April of 2000, the United States Congress directed that AC&C be transferred to the FAA.
AOPA strongly endorsed moving AC&C to the FAA. Aeronautical charts and related publications are essential sources of information for the safety of flight and compliance with FAA regulations. AC&C products directly support the operation of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system and the National Airspace System (NAS) infrastructure and it is therefore logical that the program's priorities and requirements be under the direct control of the FAA.
The collection, validation, and dissemination system was fragmented and inefficient, creating a situation where improper charting policy decisions occurred. Additionally, NOAA officials (outside of AC&C) without aviation experience or expertise had the authority to make decision that had the potential to compromise aviation safety. For example, twice in the past six years, NOAA attempted to arbitrarily discontinue World Aeronautical Charts (WACs) and raise prices for its remaining products. They did this without consulting the FAA to determine the operational and safety impacts that could occur as a result of these actions.
The FAA is responsible for the safe and efficient use of airspace. They collect, validate and disseminate aeronautical data for the publication of aeronautical products and the current AC&C division uses the information to create its charts and other products. The FAA is clearly more associated through funding, aviation safety, and program direction than any other governmental entity and we believe that AC&C is a perfect fit for the mission and organization of the FAA. In fact, for the past two fiscal years, FAA has funded AC&C almost exclusively.